Mike M.W. Craven is a renowned author from England, best known for his books in the mystery and fiction genres. He is the creator of the Washington Poe series and the author of "The Puppet House." Craven was born in Cumbria in 1968 but spent most of his growing up years in the North East. He went to the same high school as Alan Shearer, the great center-forward player of England and Newcastle. After completing high school, Craven enlisted in the army, where he underwent rigorous training for two years before leaving to live a civilian life. Craven then spent the next ten years traveling to different parts of the world, visiting historical monuments, and indulging in heavy drinking.
Craven's writing career began in 1995 when he decided to do something sensible and obtain a law degree. During this time, he also did some social work. After two years, he became a probation officer in Cumbria, eventually working his way up to chief officer grade. Sixteen years later, Craven accepted redundancy to start writing full-time. He now has different motivations for trying to get inside the minds of criminals. Craven is married and lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he is not out with his springer spaniel or talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country. Craven's books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, and his series has been adapted into a major TV series.